Dental applicator



lZci-ZAuA 35 April 30, 1968 1.. G. MARTIN DENTAL APPLICATOR Filed Sept. 5, 1965 FIG. 2

FIG. I

FIG. 5

FIG. 6

N T R A M u e R C D \U WN M RO N T5 0 3GAR E arr-R L [.LTW E L P 4 a 2 7 2 (gi j INVENTOR ATTORNEY exit conduits,

United States Patent ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A dental applicator for cleaning and treating the teeth and gums with sonic vibrations electrolytic currents, aid

a continuo sgfiowpf liquids in and grpgpd the teeth havlng lGkeLfQ.bothhuppeaandclowegjaws with space around the teeth but having a sealing means at the gums above the line of the teeth. Conduits for the entrance and exi t of cleaning liquids are proxidedand ultrasomc vibrations may be applied to the cleaning liquid by placing trar sducers the jackets cg in the ent r a r 1ce or i This invention relates to a dental applicator which can be used for treating the teeth or gums with a continous How of liquids at various temperatures and pressures. It can also be used for cleaning and treating the teeth and gums by the application of sonic vibrations, and electrolytic currents.

The invention has particular reference to a jacket which may be placed around the upper and lower teeth with a sealing means for making contact at the gums above the line of the teeth. An entrance conduit and an exit conduit are provided for each jacket for producing a continuous liquid flow.

A few applicators have been designed and used for the application of liquids to the teeth. These prior art devices have generally been made of sponge rubber and other permeable material so that the jackets could be first soaked in the liquids used and then applied to the teeth and gums. Other jackets have been used which divided a free flow liquid into and out of a jacket which encloses the teeth and gums and prevents spilling the liquid into the mouth. The present invention differs from these prior art devices in that the jacket includes a nonpermeable seal at the gum line for retaining the liquid employed. The invention also includes a plurality of electromechanical transducers for applying ultrasonic vibrations to the liquid in the jacket. The ultrasonic vibrations clean the teeth, dislodge dirt and food particles, and massage the gums, thereby exerting pressure on any pus sacks which may be present and increasing the value of the medication provided by the liquid.

One ofthe objects of this invention is to provide an improved dental applicator which avoids one or more of the disadvantages and limitations of prior art applicators.

Another object of the invention is for massaging the gums and for applying medical liquids to the teeth and gums.

Another object of the invention is for cleaning the teeth and gums by the application of ultrasonic vibrations in a liquid, semi-liquid, or gel medium,

Another object of the invention is to apply a stream of moving liquid within the jackets so that dislodged food particles and dirt may be removed from the teeth and the jacket.

Another object of ,the invention is for the application of electrolytic currents within a jacket containing a liquid for the treatment of various diseases.

Another object of the invention is for the application of chemicals and drugs to the teeth to prevent decay.

Still another object of the invention is to exert pressure on the teeth and gums to force pus and other deleterious 3,380,446 Patented Apr. 30, 1968 ICC material out of gum pockets and thereby enhance dental treatment. Pressure variations also stimulate the circulation of body fluids such as blood and lymph.

Another object of the invention is to eliminate saliva from the teeth and gums when they are being treated.

Another object of the invention is to prevent the formation of tartar on the teeth and for treatment by various chemical agents for whitening the teeth, such as oxidizing or' bleaching fluids.

The invention includes a combination jacket for treating the teeth and gums with ultrasonic vibrations and with chemicals. The invention includes a first jacket for the upper jaw having a nonpermeable flexible trough which is formed to provide a liquid seal at the gums above the line of the teeth. A second and similar packet is provided for the lower jaw. Each of the jackets are provided with at least one entrance conduit for pumping liquid into each jacket and an exit conduit, also for each jacket, for discharging the liquid. A plurality of electro-mechanical.

transducers are provided adjacent to the inner surfaces of each of the jackets for applying ultrasonic vibrations to the liquid and to the teeth for cleaning and treating the teeth and gums.

One feature of the invention includes means for joining the upper and lower jackets after they have been applied to the upper and lower jaws. This means is for insuring proper alignment of the jackets with respect to the teeth and gums. However, each jacket may be used separately if desired.

For a better understanding of the present invention, togetherwith other and further objects thereof, reference is made to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side view, partly in cross section, showing the doble jacket within the mouth and ready for treatment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the two jackets showing the sealing edge which provides a liquid seal to the gums and also showing the entrance and exit conduits.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross sectional view indicating how the jackets are first formed by the usual impression process.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 except that material has been cut away from the teeth impression lines to provide a jacket space for the movement of fluids.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the upper jacket showing. the position of the entrance and exit conduits and the conduit connections.

FIG. 6 is a top view of one of the jackets showingthe location of a series of electro-mechanical transducers which generate sound waves in the liquid within the jackets to provide a cleaning operation. The transducers are connected to an electric ultrasonic power source.

Referring now to the figures, an upper jacket 10 and a lower jacket 11 are shown within the mouth (FIG. I) in place for a treatment. FIG. 2 shows an enlarged perspective view of the jackets showing where a sealing material 12 is secured to the upper edge of the jackets for forming a seal while the jackets are in the mouth and filled with treatment media.

Since the teeth of individuals vary considerably in size. and configuration from one person to another, it has been found necessary to form jackets for each person tov be treated. These jackets are first fabricated in the usual manner by making an impression of the upper and lower teeth 13 tnd 14 and a part of the gums by means of a self-setting composition 15. These impressions can be made in the usual trays which are available in a number of sizes to fit different'types of jaws. The impressions may be made individually and without any alignment means for combining the upper and lower jackets. Later,

' them and dislodge food particlesTSinc'eTHeTofiduits2U,

when the jackets are almost complete, they may be inserted into the mouth, aligned, and alignment means provided for future use. Several alignment means may be employed, including a hinge, pressure-sensitive fabric, and a pin and hole combination. 5 After the first impression has been made, the space around the teeth is routed out by any of the usual cutting tools generally employed by dentists. The same result may be achieved by packing the teeth and a portion of the gums with a relieving layer of wax or other suitable material prior to the impression. A compressible liner 12 may now be inserted so that a liquid-tight seal is made between the liner and the gums. However, the original impression also forms a seal at the periphery where it contacts the gums. Also, as indicated in FIG. 5, 15 entrance conduits and 21 are connected to the rear portions of the jacket 15 and an exit conduit 22 is connected to the front portion of each jacket so that the liquid may be drained away after flowing through the jacket and providing a cleaning action. 20

FIG. 6 shows an ultrasonic power source 23 coupled to a transformer 24 having a core 25, a primary winding 26, and a plurality of secondary windings 27. One side of each secondary winding is joined to a common conductor which is connected to a similar conductor 31 25 embedded in the jacket 10 and making contact with each one of the transducers 32. The other sides of the secondary windings 27 are connected individually to each of the transducers. The transducers may be g 1 1ar tz r ystals embedded in the plastic jacket 15 but positioned very close to the inside surface of the jacket. When the power is turned on, the vibrations within the jacket are trans mitted by theli qi iid tg the surface of the teeth to clean 21, and 22 provide a continuous fiow of liquid, all the food particles and dirt that are dislodged will be quickly washed out and removed from the jacket cavity. After a first part of the cleaning operation, when the soft particles are removed, the ultrasonic cleaning action is more effective for removing the denser material such as tartar which, as is well known, cannot be removed by the application of tooth paste and a toothbrush. The transducers may be positioned in conduits 20, 21, or 22.

The above description relates to an applicator for cleaning the teeth by sonic vibrations. The same jacket may be used for electrolytic treatment by moving switch 36 to its lower position and thereby connect a direct current battery 37 to the common conductor 31. The other terminal of the battery is connected to an electrode pad 38 which is to be fastened to some part of the body. When the circuit is complete, current flows from the teeth (anode) to the common conductor 31 (cathode) through the electrolyte in the jacket. The current moves ions to the surfaces of the teeth and gums and thereby causes a number of desired actions such as, applying fluorine or other ions to the teeth to prevent decay or applying oxidizing ions to the teeth surface for whitening them.

FIG. 5 shows a bulb liquid pump 33 which can be manually operated to force a liquid through conduits 20 and 21. FIG. 5 also shows a compressive type seal 34 on exit conduits 22 which can be adjusted, by means of a knob 35, to provide a variable resistance to the liquid as it flows from the jacket. Since the edges of the jacket contain a compressive seal material, the combination of the pump 33 and the valve 34 produces a substantial 6 pressure within the jacket. This pressure not only ,aids in the cleaning operation, but also helps condition the gums and operates to squeeze any pus cavities which may exist.

From the above description it will be obvious that the jacket affords a way of cleaing the teeth by ultrasonic vibrations and also helps condition the gums at the same time. For most operations water can be used but it is also contemplated to other chemicals in the water. Tlgse c hemicals may include fluorides or other 'SHEEEIYCet t hanre ntietif tl dl qayl' 'y' j tlE'aTritisEptic fihids for the treatment and prevention of disiasmd'chemicals fofwhifening the teeth. These substances may-includewxidizing or bleaching agents.

The foregoing disclosure and drawings are merely illustrative of the principles of this invention and are not to be interpreted in a limiting sense. The only limitations are to be interpreted from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A jacket assembly for treating the teeth and gums comprising: a jacket for one of the jaws including a nonpermeable flexible trough adapted to surround the teeth and a portion of the gums; a nonpermeable seal secured to the edge of the trough for providing a liquid seal between the trough edge and the gums; an entrance conduit connected to the jacket for sending a liquid into the space between the teeth and the trough; an exit conduit also connected to the jacket for discharging the liquid after it has traversed a portion of the trough space; and a plurality of transducers coupled to a source of alternating current power for applying sonic vibrations to the liquid and to the teeth, said transducers positioned adjacent to the inside surface of the trough.

2. A jacket assembly for treating the teeth and gums comprising: a jacket for one of the jaws including a nonpermeable flexible trough adapted to surround the teeth and a portion of the gums; a nonpermeable seal secured to the edge of the trough for providing a liquid seal between the trough edge and the gums; and a plurality of transducers coupled to a source of alternating current power for applying sonic vibrations to the liquid and the teeth, said transducers positioned adjacent to the inside surface of the trough.

3. A jacket assembly for treating the teeth and gums comprising: a jacket for either one of the'jaws including a nonpermeable trough adapted to surround the teeth and a portion of the gums, said trough formed with a space between the inside surface of the trough and the outside surface of the teeth for the passage of a liquid, said jacket including an edge for contact with the gums for providing a liquid tight seal therebetween; an entrance conduit connected to the jacket for sending a liquid into the space between the teeth and the trough; an exit conduit also connected to the jacket for discharging the liquid; a plurality of transducers positioned adjacent to the surface of the trough for applying sonic vibrations to the liquid in the trough and to the teeth; and a source of alternating current power connected to said transducers for causing them to vibrate and generate sonic vibrations in the liquid.

4. A jacket assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein said vibrations have a frequency greater than twenty thousand cycles per second.

5. A jacket assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein said transducers are piezoelectric crystals.

6. A jacket assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein said seal between the edges of the jacket and the gums is protected by a flexible strip.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 803,474- 10/ 1905 Dennis 321 1,826,434- 10/1931 Reiss. 3,234,942 2/1966 Simor 128l72.1 3,279,067 10/1966 Hoffman 32 1 FOREIGN PATENTS 402,802 10/1909 France. 397,477 8/1933 Great Britain.

L. W. TRAPP, Primary Examiner. 

